Title: A dozen days

Author: Nienna 100

Reviews Wanted: Absolutely

Warnings: small spoiler, a little language, mentions of sexual intercourse, angst

A/N: Reviewers will be given cyber muffins

Lucius' icy eyes surveyed the rows of blankets and bodies. The ghost of Dumbledore was striding between each one giving orders; the dying were being taken to St Mungos with the critically injured; some of the less fatally wounded were being transported to their homes and some being lifted to their rooms in Grimmauld Place. The ex-Headmaster was clear and decisive, giving responsibilities to those left standing.

Malfoy Senior limped down the row; no one had been spared injuries. Molly Weasly, Mad-Eye Moody and Severus Snape (among others) had been carted off to hospital already and Luna Lovegood was being sent. He walked past Nympadora Tonks, Kingsly Shackelbolt, one of the Weasly twins, Aberforth and Neville Longbottom. All were either unconscious or delirious, moaning and groaning in pain. There had been more a few minutes ago, when Lucius had first walked in.

He got to the end of the line. There, pale as death, lay Hermione Granger. She was on her side facing the wall. With no time for worrying about decency, someone had ripped the lower part of her robes off to clear the deep slash at the base of her spine. Kneeling down, wincing as his muscle protested, Mr. Malfoy pulled her tattered robes into a more respectable position, concealing her privacy. Silently, he critically examined the torn flesh, where bone from the spine had broken off and were floating in the blood. He shivered.

Feeling eyes on the back of his head, the blonde turned. Albus Dumbledore's tired, ghostly eyes were staring at him

"Albus" Lucius was nervous, but hid it as he tried and failed to shake the Professor's hand, "My son told me what you did for him. I can't thank you enough"

"You have already repaid your debt Lucius. You saved the most promising student Hogwarts has produced this decade. Not to mention that you destroyed the snake-turned-Horcrux. The wizarding world is in your debt Mr. Malfoy"

Lucius bowed, the only response. Then he gestured to Hermione "Will she recover?"

"You are the one who trained as a Healer if my memory is correct. What are your thoughts?"

"I don't know Professor. Only time will tell"

Dumbledore nodded

"Professor, is there anything I can do to help. I feel useless just standing here," he didn't mention that he felt awful about all the people that were suffering because of his "friends" "Surely there must be something I can do?" His voice was not his usual drawl or vehement hiss, but concerned and true.

A small smile on his face, Dumbledore asked "Would you care for Miss Granger? You may not have the qualifications for Healing, but that was not down to you. You have the learning and the natural talent. I want to put you in charge of her. You saved her so it is only natural to want her well"

Lucius was taken aback, but only for a moment. "But she's a…" sense caught up with him, he wasn't a Death Eater anymore "I'll do my best"

"That's all we can ask for Mr. Malfoy. Thank you"

Dumbledore floated away and Lucius was left staring at the non-responsive Muggleborn

"Come on then" he whispered to himself, "You're in this deep, you might as well carry on"

Silently he cast a spell that had been hidden deep in his mind for many years, one that he had been taught during his Healer training. Hermione floated, still in the same position on her side. He walked stately up a flight of stairs, ignoring the many eyes watching him. Dumbledore had cast a spell to make doors glow blue if they were free for the taking. Up another lot of stairs and down three landings, he found two rooms next to each other glowing cornflower blue.

Gently, he guided the drifting girl inside the one on the right, and turned both doors back to normal. No one would claim his and her rooms as their own. He looked around and examined his surroundings. It was a clean room with a single bed, a desk and a wardrobe. A side door revealed an en suite bathroom, with tub, sink and toilet.

He lay Hermione down on the bed, still on her side so that he could treat the wound properly. He used his wand to clear the site of blood, and looked at the bone of the spine. He winced: no charm would fix that bone; it had a large chunk missing that couldn't be replaced.

Lucius watched her slow breathing for a moment. She wasn't really a girl anymore, but a young woman in the prime of her life. Her brown hair that had been frizzy and unruly was now sleek and beautiful beneath the dirt.

He shook his head, mussing up his already tangled hair. Then, using his wand, he cleaned out the cut from grit, removed the bone fragments and sealed up the wound. Nobody could fix the spine.

Rolling her onto her newly-healed back, the wizard saw a large bump on her head. For a moment he searched his memory, but he could only recall potions to bring down the inflammation. Hermione could no more swallow a potion as give a speech about the incompetence of the Minister for Magic at the moment. He would have to tend it the muggle way.

As he walked into the bathroom he caught sight of himself in the mirror. He had dark shadows under his eyes; his face was gaunt and pasty. His body was astoundingly thin; his dirt-caked robes hung loose. Under his nose, where a curse had struck him, dry blood was encrusted. His hair was limp. Hermione was not in a serious condition anymore so he took a moment to clean his face and cast a number of glamours upon himself.

He emerged from the bathroom with a pewter dish of water, a washcloth and a towel, looking presentable. It would not do to have his patient wake and fall into a dead faint at the sight of him.

As he sponged at her sweat-streaked, dirt-ridden face, Harry and Ron stepped into the room.

Harry froze, but Ron immediately burst out with "What the hell are you doing here?"

Lucius turned to them, feeling livid as he hissed "Mr Weasly, if you would be so kind as to keep your voice down I would be grateful. Miss Granger is sleeping, as no doubt you have realised. She should stay that way for the moment. Keep your tongue under control, for your own sake if not hers"

Ron was rendered speechless, Harry nodded quietly.

Lucius' anger dissipated: the Potter boy was obviously suffering, though he might not admit it. He was healed of his injuries but not of guilt. Remorse could be as fatal as the exhaustion and sickness Harry was obviously feeling. Lucius was reminded that Harry was that same age as Draco.

"Come through here" he said softly, holding open the door that joined the room he had claimed as his own to Hermione's. Harry and Ron trailed through and Lucius followed. As he shut the door, Malfoy muttered a quick charm to alert him if Hermione woke

"Sit, please," he acted as if he owned the room, though he had never stepped foot in it before. It was the same size as Hermione's but instead of a desk it held a two-seater sofa. Harry and Ron sat on the sofa and Lucius lowered himself onto the bed, facing them "How can I help you two?"

"We wanted to see Hermione. We had hoped that she would be awake. We've been round to see all the injured" Harry told Lucius, "How come you are tending Hermione? Shouldn't she be in St Mungos, or being looked after by a Healer?"

"Believe it or not Potter I trained as a Healer for two years, but my Father… I stopped before qualifications."

Harry nodded again, looked tired as Ron said "How is she? Will she be ok?"

Lucius' hair fell into his face as he shook his head "Merlin knows. She will live but there is no telling what damage has occurred until she wakes. Anything could happen"

Ron paled and Harry sat back in his chair, shaking with his head in his hands.

"If I had just…" he started, but Lucius interrupted

"Mr Potter, you can if yourself to death, but it will not do you any good. Nor will it do Hermione any good. Now wait here" he Apparated out, leaving Ron and Harry very confused

"D'you think we can trust him?" Ron asked

"Dumbledore does and he was right about Snape so he might as well be right about Mr Malfoy"

They didn't have the chance to say anything else because Lucius was back. He had two mugs of tea in his hands. As he approached the two, they noticed for the first time that he was limping and leaning heavily on his cane.

"You're hurt. Are you ok?" exclaimed Harry

"Fine. I thank you" he passed them the cups, "Drink that. You're exhausted and it has an energy replenishing potion in. Much better than any caffeine"

Ron looked hesitant but Harry took a gulp. Once he was finished, he grinned. A healthy flush rose to his cheeks "You are a Healer"

"Did you not believe me?"

"No, but this is good"

"It isn't my recipe, it's Severus's"

"Snape?" Ron spat out his mouthful

"Yes, we've been friends since school"

"Right. Thanks for feeding us poison"

"What?"

"It's just Snape, you know?"

"Not really Mr Weasly," Lucius said dryly, "Back to the matter in hand, I think there is a large chance she will regain her health, though there may be some lasting effects"

"What do you mean?"

"Miss Granger was hit by a curse designed to damage the spine. It has done just that. I don't know the extent of the injuries yet. Just prepare yourself"

"Two of my brothers died today, my mother, father, sister and other brother are ill injured," said Ron "Don't give me any more bad news."

Lucius stood and bowed, as Harry and Ron prepared to leave "I hope everything turns out as positive as possible"

"Thank you Mr Malfoy" said the two boys.

They apparated away, leaving Lucius feeling a little bemused.

He went back into Hermione's room, finished cleaning her face and pulled her curtains closed. It was late at night. He went into his own room, stripped off, took a shower in his bathroom and went to sleep.